7 dark sky preserves in Ontario where you can see stars, planets and the Milky Way
These spots are home to some of the darkest skies in the country. ✨
A person stands under a sky of stars. Right: The Milky Way galaxy seen at an Ontario Park.
Want to do some stargazing? You can find some of the darkest skies in Canada right here in Ontario, allowing you to get a beautiful glimpse of stars, planets and the cosmos.
The province is home to several dark sky preserves that offer incredible views of the night sky, with perfect conditions for catching meteor showers, seeing constellations, getting a glimpse of the northern lights and even seeing the Milky Way galaxy.
Many are located in provincial parks where you can camp overnight under a canopy of stars.
The skies in these spots are so dark that you can often see incredible celestial events with nothing more than the naked eye.
Ready to get going? Here are seven dark sky preserves in Ontario to visit this year.
Quetico Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: ON-11, Atikokan, ON
Why You Need To Go: Quetico Provincial Park is known as one of Ontario's finest wilderness canoeing parks, known for its rugged beauty, towering rock cliffs, majestic waterfalls, and "unspoiled tranquillity."
Quetico was recognized as an international dark sky park by the International Dark Sky Association for its exceptional pollution-free night skies.
The park's shorelines and beaches are excellent spots to view the night sky, whether you're viewing with a telescope, binoculars, or the naked eye. On a clear night, you can look up to spot the Milky Way among millions of stars.
The park can be found in Northwestern Ontario in Atikokan, about 2 hours from Thunder Bay. It offers rustic cabin rentals available year-round, as well as interior and backcountry camping, which can be booked online.
Accessibility: All-terrain wheelchair available.
Fathom Five National Marine Park
Price: $9 per adult for admission
Address: 121 Chi sin tib dek Rd., Tobermory, ON
Why You Need To Go: Just to the northwest of Bruce Peninsula National Park and only accessible by boat is Fathom Five National Marine Park, another ideal spot for stargazing.
The park, which was designated a dark sky preserve in 2009, according to Parks Canada, is where you can see bright stars and constellations as well as the Milky Way.
Other popular attractions in the park include dive sites for 22 shipwrecks in Lake Huron, intriguing rock formations and backcountry camping and hiking on Flowerpot Island.
If you want to stay the night here, there is one camping location in Fathom Five park on Flowerpot Island, where you can fall asleep to the sounds of Georgian Bay.
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Price: $9 per adult
Address: 469 Cyprus Lake Rd., Tobermory, ON
Why You Need To Go: Bruce Peninsula National Park offers some of the most breathtaking views of Ontario's landscape, but the real spectacle starts after sundown.
Found on the waters of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, in the night sky here, you can get incredible views of the cosmos, and may even be able to see the northern lights.
According to Destination Ontario, there are two designated sky observing areas in the park: one near the facilities by Cyprus Lake, and the second a coastal site southwest of Highway 6 called Singing Sands.
If you want to stay the night in the park, there are a variety of camp sites and accommodations, including front and back-country camping.
In the summer, the public can enjoy a free night sky-watching program called Bayside Astronomy that takes place at the Lion's Head Marina.
Offered by the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association and the Municipality of Northern Bruce, the program begins with a short star talk at dusk, followed by viewing of the night sky through volunteer telescopes.
Accessibility: Some accessible facilities located in the park.
Manitoulin Eco Park
Price: $10 per person for night pass
Address: 18777 ON-6, Tehkummah, ON
Why You Need To Go: Manitoulin Eco Park is an official dark sky preserve offering 360-degree views of the night sky.
Formerly known as Gordon's Park, the park can be found in Tehkummah at the southeast corner of Manitoulin Island about 2 hours from Sudbury.
The park's dark skies are the perfect place to take in meteor showers, witness the northern lights, and see other celestial events.
The park offers Dark Sky Camping where visitors can get incredible views of the stars and planets. You can also visit with a Night Pass, which is $10 per person and gets you access to the Dark Sky Observation Area from sunset until sunrise.
In the summer, the park also hosts astronomy nights and stargazing night hikes.
Point Pelee National Park
Price: $9 per adult for admission
Address: 1118 Point Pelee Dr., Leamington ON
Why You Need To Go: Most know Point Pelee National Park as the southernmost point of mainland Canada, but it's also a great place for stargazing.
The park was designated dark sky preserve in 2006 by the Windsor Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, making it one of the best places in the country to see stars and planets in the night sky.
The park hosts Dark Sky Nights where it remains open until midnight, allowing visitors to explore the park after dark. According to the park, on certain nights, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be on-site with telescopes to assist with stargazing.
If you'll be visiting on a Dark Sky Night, you can also pick up a chart of seasonal stars at the front gate so you know what to look for.
Killarney Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 958 ON-637, Killarney, ON
Why You Need To Go: Killarney Provincial Park is a famous spot in Ontario for viewing the night sky, and was actually Ontario's first provincial park to be designated as a dark sky preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2018.
The park is also one of only two provincial parks in Ontario with an observatory, according to Ontario Parks, and hosts guest astronomers throughout the summer.
You can also go on your own stargazing adventure here. Ontario Parks recommends stargazing on Killarney's beach, and using a pair of binoculars to observe the cosmos.
The park has a number of campsites where visitors can spend the night, which can be reserved online.
If you'd prefer not to sleep in a tent, roofed accommodation, including a cabin and yurts, is also available.
Accessibility: All-terrain wheelchair available.
Lake Superior Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
Address: 96 Broadway Ave., Wawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Lake Superior Provincial Park is another classic location for stargazing and viewing the northern lights in Ontario.
The park is recognized as a dark sky preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and boasts some of the darkest skies in North America, with its low horizon creating a wide frame perfect for admiring the cosmos.
According to Ontario Parks, the latitude and darkness of the park also provides some of the best opportunities along the southern border of Canada to view the northern lights.
Check out the designated stargazing site on Agawa Beach, near the Visitors Centre, for some prime north, west and south sky viewing on the beach.
There are also amazing night sky viewing opportunities at Rabbit Blanket Lake campground, according to Ontario Parks.
The park has several campsites, with options for interior camping and backcountry camping.
Accessibility: All-terrain wheelchair available for use.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.